Raise your hand if you're going to spend this weekend doing your taxes?
If you are, and you're a blogger, and you're not sure how to account for your income, this is a helpful ebook. I bought it last year and wrote about it below. For a lot of bloggers, it's money well spent. You can read on to see whether it's right for you.
If you want to cut to the chase, you can print a PDF using the link on this page, or you can buy it on Amazon here.
Here's my review from last year…
Several weeks ago, I got an email from Nikki. She told me she had written an ebook with tax tips for bloggers and attached a copy in case I was interested.
I was interested. I told her I'd put it in my "to read" file, which I did.
Last night, I pulled Your Blogging Business: Tax Talk and Tips from a Bookkeeper Turned Blogger PDF (or on Amazon) out of my "to read" file (actually, I put the PDF right on my Kindle—you know you can do that right?).
It took me about an hour to read last night.
When I finished it, I thought, Shall I promote this or not?
It's a solid little book, with information I'm sure a lot of bloggers (particularly newer ones) will appreciate. So I thought yes.
- I could tell you that it's easy to read, because it is.
- I could tell you that Nikki somehow makes taxes entertaining and, dare I say, a bit fun? She had me smiling at several points.
- I could tell you that it's nice to have someone explain taxes from a blogger's point of view.
But it's easy to suggest others buy something you got for free, isn't it?
So I thought that if I was going to suggest you buy her ebook for yourself, I should be willing to buy it too.
So I did.
About 15 minutes ago, I bought a copy of it for myself, even though I have a free copy sitting on my Kindle.
I'm also an affiliate, so I'll get paid a commission for any copies you buy through my links in this post. But now you know I'm a paying customer myself.
Should you buy it?
There is not a (human-inspired) book in this world that's right for everyone.
Your Blogging Business: Tax Talk and Tips from a Bookkeeper Turned Blogger (PDF) (or on Amazon) is a basic guide. It's not exhaustive. It doesn't go into great depth about all the tax issues a blogger might face, but it does provide a great general overview of what a typical small- to medium-sized blogger might encounter.
To help you decide whether or not you should purchase it, I tried to break it down for you.
It's great for…
- Bloggers who will make more than $400 in income this year and just want a good basic understanding of how to account for self-employment income.
- Bloggers who are intimidated by the tax process and would like an easy-to-follow explanation of the tax implications of an online business.
- Bloggers who do their own taxes and don't have a tax background.
- Bloggers who have an affiliate program that might require them to issue 1099's (you're required to do that if you pay any affiliate more than $600 in a year).
- Bloggers who do their taxes on their own or done professionally but want a few very basic ideas for keeping your records straight.
- Bloggers who have had their taxes done professionally in the past but want to try to do it themselves.
It might not be helpful for…
- Bloggers who have done their taxes in previous years and feel relatively confident in the process.
- Bloggers who have their taxes done by a professional.
- Bloggers who do not intend to make a significant income from blogging this year or who have just a personal or hobby blog.
My Personal Experience
While I had already done our taxes before reading Your Blogging Business, I especially appreciated the sections on depreciation and the whole thing about how to account for an in-home office. That was helpful.
I also realized one of the questions I had to search for online while I did our taxes was answered right in Nikki's book. If only I had read it before I did our taxes…
And, I had a brainstorm about how I can keep better track of my records for next tax season.
That's my take. For me it was $4.99 well spent. If you think it might be right for you, get the PDF here or the Kindle version here).
Disclosure: The links in this post are my affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.
This is a really, REALLY great book and I'm glad to have it in my collection.
Nikki knows her stuff and any blogger would be tickled pink to know all her tips.
I definitely found it helpful too!
Oh, thank you so much! I'm relatively new to blogging (I've only been doing it for a year) and I've been wondering this whole time what I was going to do for taxes. This is perfect timing!
You're welcome! I was glad Nikki sent it along.
Thanks Amy!! I've been totally procrastinating on researching/filing my taxes. You can't beat $4.99. I just bought a copy!
Yes, I think it definitely pays for itself!
Amy, thank you SO much for sharing about my book. I just loved reading the review….but I love reading all of your posts
My pleasure, Nikki! You did a great job and I know it'll be helpful to a lot of people. It was to me! Thanks for writing it.
just LOVE this sentence…"There is not a (human-inspired) book in this world that's right for everyone."
Taxes! I need all the help I can get! Thanks, Amy!!
I was going to comment on that (human-inspired) sentence as well – awesome!
I know I could google it, but if you want to answer this question, I'd love to know in your clear and easy steps how you do this…
(actually, I put the PDF right on my Kindle—you know you can do that right?)
No problem. Connect your Kindle to your computer via the USB cord. When you do, you should see your Kindle as a device on your computer (like you would find your camera or iPod when they are attached). Click on "Kindle" and then on the "documents" folder. Drag the PDF into the "documents" folder. Done. (Note that PDFs like this one that are written on regular sized paper, portrait style, work just fine. Ebooks set up as landscapre don't work as well.) Hope that helps!
Yeeee haaaaawwww!!!
Thanks! I've been planning on putting my ebook on Amazon to sell, but didn't think it would look right on the kindle. Now I have to figure out the Amazon/Kindle part, but at least I know it looks right.
Amy, thank you. This is something I've been looking for…I've felt very under-informed when it comes to my blogging business and tax implications. I bought my copy soon as I saw it!
Amy, I have subscribed to your blog by email, but I don't receive the posts. I tried subscribing again, but it says my email is already subscribed. I have checked my spam folder and it's not there. I can't keep up with my feed reader, and I'm trying email for the ones I want to be sure to read. Can you help me?
Hi Linda, I just checked and see your new subscription (from 2/17) in there. That's the only one in there so I'm not sure where the other one went. I have not posted since you signed up again, so be on the lookout tomorrow and let me know if you still don't receive it. Sorry about that!
LOVE this book!! Nikki is so knowledgeable and ALL my information about taxes and blogging came from her. I have read and re-read this book and it has made taxes SO much easier
I should probably look through it again to see what I need to remember to do for my taxes again for 2013 haha!
Hi Amy, I really enjoy reading your post!! packed with useful information! though I'm not sure if this book will help me since I just moved to the UK…I'm trying to find out how taxes and legal stuff work here…before that I started blogging in Botswana (only in August last year) and over there there was not any law or anything – any advice on what should I do in a foreign country?
On the other hand and about PDF to kindle, I don't have a KINDLE, I read my books either in my pc or phone…does converting PDF to kindle work for them too?
Thanks!
Blessings xx
What a great resource! My taxes are already done for this year, but I've made a note about this ebook in my files for next year!
Hi Amy ! Thank you so much for the book recommendation. I am slowly building up my online business and I recently asked my tax advisor if there were any books he could recommend regarding this exact subject and he was unable to recommend anything. I will definitely be purchasing this book and adding it to my collection. As always your content is insightful and very helpful !
Another great post Amy. I think I may purchase this "just in case" I ever make any money on my blog! Great to have this information in advance.
Thanks for the tip, Amy. This book is amazing and so glad you suggested it. I must check it out.